How about Tavira ? Cabanas is nice and not commercialised.
Ria Formosa is great for a day out if you're into nature and there's a nature reserve just inland of Vila Real de Santo Antonio.
Alternatively you could take the train to Lagos and share a caneca or three of Sagres with me.

Busy Bee pub is nice.

Thanks for your replies. Where is the Busy Bee pub Perry, and how are you keeping ??? I'm back in Albufeira next month for a few days, I will try and pop in (hope the ciggie prices don't go up 'til then)
I will have a look at Tavira, but the main reason I'm heading to the Eastern Algarve is to have a look at what Spain has to offer there.

Robby

Try Tavira, Cabanas, Altura for unspoiled areas. Also Castro Marim for the conservation area. Vila Real de Santo Antonio as well as Ayamonte, just on the Spain/Portugal border.
Pat

Hey Robby,

The Busy Bee is next to the Casablanca Inn, in Praceta Casablanca, about three minutes from the beach. Nice bloke runs it, tell him we sent you

If you want to look at Spain Rob, why not visit.... Spain!

Look forward to seeing you next month.

Cheers & Beers

Perry

If you want to look at Spain Rob, why not visit.... Spain!

Unfortunately it's not that easy to get to that area of Spain from Newcastle. I'm doing the Algarve 3 times this year as a newbie and having a look around. Your neck of the woods in Albufeira is excellent, and I was inpressed a bit with Vilamora, but I want to see the bottom end of Spain to see if it differs to the more tourist areas, and of course to see if Eastern Algarve differs to the west of Faro. I must admit though, I'm much more impressed with my first visit to the Algarve, than recent trips to say Costa Blanca, it's a much better option.

Take care and give my regards to your Lady and Mikey

Robby

Hi Robby,

When we first stayed in Albufeira, we had two forays into Spain (Costa de la Luz) to see whether we might want to buy a holiday home there. We went to the area between the border and Huelva but only saw ranks and ranks of new-build houses there so can't really say much about that area. Then we drove via Seville, Jerez de la Frontera and Cadiz to an area that is starting to be developed near Chiclana and a little further on. The beaches that we saw there were massive, backed by sand dunes - beautiful but VERY windy. The winds come straight off the Atlantic, like they do on the western coast of the Algarve (north from Cabo S. Vicente). We didn't stop at Seville or Cadiz (as we'd realised that we were nearly 2 hours late for our appointment, one hour of which was due to our not having remembered Spanish time is one hour ahead of Portuguese!). However, Jerez looked a very nice place as we shot through it! I don't know if any of the budget airlines fly there yet.

I'd be interested to hear what you think, if you manage to visit any of these places.

Thanks Rose, Seville is on the agenda if it's not to hot

Plenty to aim at, thanks again.

Robby

Robby,
If going to Spain in the Cadiz region, take a look at El Puerto de Santa Maria. It's a lovely place, we have holidayed there many times and my son lived there for 4 years. Ryanair do flights to Jerez de La Frontera and it is only half an hour to drive there.
Valdelagrana and Conil are worth a visit too as is the town of Jerez itself.
Pat

Ryanair do flights to Jerez de La Frontera

NOT from Newcastle though !!!!!!!!

I had better book an extra few days, lots to choose from.

Thanks Pat,

Robby

If you hire a car a very small relazing place is Fuzeta between faro and Tavira,the lagoon was very warm to swim in. Even if you have a carand you are considering going to Saville in Monte Gordo there was 2 coach operater that did Saville for aroumd £ 20. Six hours free time and a good tour and he had the parking problems. We landed up in a very nice mini buss with just 8 of us an was 90 minutes traveling insted of 120